World Bicycle Relief was started in 2005 to meet the relief needs of the Indian Ocean Tsunami. Founders, F.K. Day and Leah Missbach Day, partnered with aid organizations on the ground in Sri Lanka to distribute over 24,000 bicycles to aid the rebuilding of lives by providing access to education and healthcare. WBR was eventually approached by aid organizations to assist volunteer health programs in sub saharan Zambia, where WBR provided bikes to healthcare workers and trained mechanics to maintain and repair bikes as well.
Susan, a mother from Savannah, Georgia asks: “Do you have any tips for biking with kids?”
Since founder, Maria Boustead, does not have children of her own, she got help from Annika, a mother of two living in the Logan Square area of Chicago, IL. Annika had some great tips of her own to lend us, so here they are! Read More →
Not only just the second Chicago Cyclofemme ride, but the ride we have ever organized! Chicagoans, please join us for this family friendly ride along the lake front. Read More →
On my way home tonight, I decided to visit the lakefront, suspecting that the drizzle and chill would keep most people away and I could have it all to myself. (I was right). The solitude reminded me of an enchantingly lonely day that I spent in Tokyo about 10 years ago. Those scenes of Scarlett Johansson in a rainy Tokyo in Lost in Translation? It was just like that. Or like this: Read More →
This week’s question comes from Diane in Grand Rapids, who asks “I’m getting my bike ready for spring. What are your favorite bicycle accessories?”. Glad you asked! See my top five after the jump: Read More →
“I always feel like I always need to wear pants; how do I know which of my skirts are good for biking in?”
No worries. We have a three question test to determine if a skirt is good enough to bike in. Once you’ve determined the right skirt for the ride, just hop on and get going!
Question #1: The Movability Test
“Can I stand with my feet wide apart in this skirt?”
*You should be able to stand with legs, at least, shoulder’s length apart while also being able to stand with legs spread front to back within that same distance. FAIL
Question #2: The Length Test
“Is my skirt too short, or too long?”
*If you divide your leg in thirds from the hip to the knee, a perfect length for a ridable “short skirt” should be within the bottom third. This means that the shortest your skirt should be when riding a bicycle is about 5 inches above the knee-cap. If you divide you leg in thirds from the foot to the knee, the lengthiest your skirt should be, without getting caught in the wheel of your bicycle, is in the top third. In other words, the longest a skirt should be is about 5 inches below the knee. 5 inches below the knee to 5 inches above the knee, this is the Golden Zone. FAILDOUBLE FAIL
Question #3: The Marilyn Monroe Poof Test
“Is my skirt weighted enough to stay down in windy circumstances?”
*You must make sure that your skirt is heavy enough for those windy days. What’s the material? Heavier canvas? Flowing linen? Is it double layered? This is the question that has the most variating factors and depends on the confidence that you have in your clothing. There are, however a number of solutions out there that may solve this problem. FAIL
Check out Maria Boustead’s Youtube video for more guidance on skirts for riding!
This week at Po Campo, we were all about fitness and wellness! There are simple things that can be done everyday to improve your wellness through fitness. Po Campo bags are great for kickstarting your wellness and enhancing your fitness programs. Change up your daily routine to add some fitness or wellness to your day. Simple steps you can take include riding your bike instead of driving, walking instead of public transportation, and doing yoga.
